Football

English football steps up sanctions to curb discrimination incidents

Discriminatory behavior in English soccer could be punished with at least 10-game suspensions. The Football Association confirmed plans on Thursday to strengthen sanctions on incidents involving race, religion and sexual orientation. Under new guidelines, regulatory commissions will be required to impose a suspension of at least 10 matches in cases that are considered "aggravated breaches" of misconduct. Such breaches involve "express or implied reference" to ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality, religion, belief, sex, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation and disability. "Enhanced measures are necessary to tackle this abhorrent conduct," the FA said. Mitigating factors could result in suspensions of more or less than 10 matches.

Italy bring back Roberto Mancini after third straight World Cup failure

Roberto Mancini has once again been tasked with revitalizing an Italy team in crisis, almost exactly three years after he bolted on the national team. Italian soccer federation president Giovanni Malago announced Mancini as the new Italy coach on Tuesday, adding that Claudio Ranieri will become the new technical director after Paolo Maldini stepped down the previous day - just 16 days after being appointed. "Time was running out I believed the person who should become the new coach of Italy is Roberto Mancini, for a whole list of reasons," Malago said. "There will be a press conference tomorrow with both Claudio Ranieri and Roberto Mancini." The 61-year-old Mancini led the Azzurri to the European Championship title in 2021 but shockingly resigned as Italy coach in August 2023, taking over Saudi Arabia's national team two weeks later. "It is clear that all the necessary assessments have been made," Malago said when asked about Mancini's sudden departure three years ago. "I certainl

How Rodri could become the missing piece in Real Madrid's midfield puzzle

According to multiple reports, Madrid are increasingly confident of striking a deal with Manchester City for the Ballon d'Or-winning midfielder.

Australian World Cup player Volpato allegedly tests positive for cocaine

Cristian Volpato, who represented Australia at the World Cup, has allegedly tested positive for cocaine and also for speeding, New South Wales state police said. They said the 22-year-old Volpato, who switched allegiances from Italy to Australia before the World Cup, was allegedly clocked at 50 kilometers per hour (30 miles per hour) over the designated speed limit when police stopped him on Sydney's Anzac Bridge early on Friday morning. He was subjected to a roadside drug test which returned a positive result for cocaine, police said in a statement on Friday. Football Australia said in a statement on Saturday that it was "aware of allegations involving one of our players. "We have been in contact with the player and continue to monitor the matter and support the player throughout this process," it added. One Australian media outlet said Volpato had tested negative to cocaine in a urine test, but it was not clear if it was related to the Friday incident. Others said Volpato had ..

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha to join Chilean football club Colo Colo

One of the breakout stars at the World Cup has a new home in Chile - Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has signed a contract with Colo Colo, the South American country's biggest soccer team. The 40-year-old Vozinha became one of the most talked-about players at the World Cup with a string of remarkable saves against top teams such as eventual champion Spain and defending champion Argentina. "Welcome. We're waiting for you," the club wrote Friday on its social media pages in a post that quickly sparked excitement not only among Colo Colo supporters but across Chile, where the national team failed this year to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. Anibal Mosa, president of Blanco y Negro, the company that manages the Chilean club, had confirmed shortly before that the goalkeeper, who had no contract with any team during the World Cup, will arrive in Chile soon. "Vozinha is going to be a Colo Colo player. In the next few days, he will travel to Chile, undergo the necessary medical ..

Why Pep Guardiola said no to Italy despite craving international football?

Yet while the former Manchester City boss has rejected one of international football's biggest jobs, his long-held ambition of coaching a national team remains very much alive.

Jurgen Klopp named new Germany head coach with eyes on 2030 World Cup

Germany has hired Jurgen Klopp to coach its national team, giving the ex-Liverpool manager a daunting task to turn around the fortunes of a squad which failed yet again at the World Cup. Klopp signed a contract to coach Germany through to the 2030 World Cup, the German soccer federation said as he was presented at a news conference Friday. "The national team brings us Germans together like almost nothing else can. That's what makes this task so special for me," Klopp said. He replaces Julian Nagelsmann, who quit after Germany's loss to Paraguay meant it failed to reach the last 16 of a men's World Cup for the third time in a row. It is Klopp's first coaching job since he left Liverpool in 2024 citing fatigue. He said he was "recharged" in comments while in talks over the Germany job. The man known for thrilling "heavy metal football" at Liverpool, Klopp was Germany's preferred candidate as soon as Nagelsmann quit. Over weeks of talks, the 59-year-old German - 20 years older than

Germany's wait ends as Klopp set to be presented as the head coach

The German soccer federation has called a news conference for Friday when it is expected to present Jurgen Klopp as the next national coach. In a brief announcement on Thursday, the federation didn't give a reason for the event scheduled for Friday morning at its Frankfurt headquarters. The former Liverpool manager has been the preferred candidate ever since Julian Nagelsmann resigned following Germany's shock loss on penalties to Paraguay in the World Cup round of 32. Klopp held talks with Germany officials in New York while working there as a TV expert at the World Cup, and the federation said on July 11 they reached an agreement on "essential key points" of a contract. At that time, the main obstacle was getting the agreement of drinks giant Red Bull, where Klopp has been working for the last year and a half as head of global soccer, overseeing the network of Red Bull-backed clubs around the world. Klopp hasn't coached since he left Liverpool in 2024, citing fatigue. He said th

Inter Miami sign Casemiro; MLS investigating club for possible tampering

Inter Miami announced the signing of Brazil midfielder and five-time Champions League winner Casemiro on Wednesday, and Major League Soccer is now investigating whether the reigning league champion engaged in tampering to get that deal done. The 34-year-old Casemiro - who appeared in all five of Brazil's matches at this year's World Cup, scoring one goal - is under contract with Inter Miami through the end of next year's sprint season, with an extension option through June 2029. Casemiro's discovery rights were held by the LA Galaxy, and by league rule that would have prevented Inter Miami from negotiating with him. The teams reached a settlement that allowed Inter Miami to get the long-awaited signing done, but the league is still probing the tampering allegation. "The league is gathering all relevant information and will refrain from further comment until the review is complete," MLS said in a statement. "While Inter Miami CF and the LA Galaxy have reached a settlement for the ...

England football icon Kevin Keegan, former Ballon d'Or winner, dies at 75

Kevin Keegan, the two-time Ballon d'Or-winning soccer star who captained and coached England and won the European Cup with Liverpool, has died. He was 75. His death was announced on Monday by former club Newcastle, where he had been both a player and coach. Keegan revealed last month that he had stage four cancer. "One of the most iconic, influential and deeply loved figures in our club's history," Newcastle said. For a time in the 1970s, Keegan transcended the English game with his celebrity status. Keegan, one of just four Englishmen to win the Ballon d'Or, wasn't just a brilliant soccer player who dovetailed nimbleness and an eye for goal with a relentless hunger and work rate stemming from his working-class upbringing in northern England. He was also a trendsetter off the field, through his haircut - a perm, which other footballers across Europe started to copy - and his move into celebrity culture that saw him release a single, appear in an after-shave ad with heavyweight box

FIFA World Cup final: Keralam declares holiday for schools, colleges

Kerala has declared a holiday for schools and colleges on July 20, allowing students to stay up and watch the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain

France vs England HIGHLIGHTS FIFA WC 3rd place match: ENG beat FRA in 10-goal thriller to win bronze

An end-to-end tie saw a thrilling end to proceedings as England put 6 past France to get the 3rd place on the night.

Fifa expects World Cup final to proceed despite wildfire smoke from Canada

Fifa will not shift Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina despite wildfire smoke affecting the New York area, with officials expecting air quality to improve before kick-off

How an Italian sculptor created the World Cup trophy that became an icon

Designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, the iconic FIFA World Cup trophy symbolises struggle, victory and fan jubilation, and remains football's ultimate prize

19-year old Croatia defender Luka Vuskovic joins Brighton from Tottenham

Teenage defender Luka Vuskovic moved between Premier League clubs on Tuesday, joining Brighton from Tottenham after playing at the World Cup for Croatia. Brighton said the 19-year-old Vuskovic signed a five-year deal without stating the transfer fee. British media reported the fee was 46 million pounds ($61.5 million). One month ago Tottenham paid Brighton a reported 52 million pounds ($69.6 million) for the Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke who Vuskovic should now replace. Vuskovic played once at the World Cup, starting in the 4-2 loss to England in their opening group-stage game. Croatia was eliminated in the round of 32 by Portugal after a controversial call to disallow an equalizing goal deep in stoppage time. Vuskovic's game time at Tottenham seemed blocked by the offseason signings of central defenders Van Hecke and Marcos Senesi, who was a free agent after his contract expired at Bournemouth. Vuskovic spent last season on loan from Tottenham at Hamburger SV, where his

Data viz: The World Cup teams that never trailed - and those that never led

A minute-by-minute breakdown of all 100 matches in Fifa World Cup 2026 reveals which teams controlled their games, who spent them chasing, and who staged comebacks.

Off-field divide: European football teams racially diverse but Europe isn't

White Europeans may be happy to watch foreign players from the distance of a football stadium win sporting laurels for their nations but are unlikely to welcome them elsewhere

Special Olympics Bharat chases historic Gothia Cup hat-trick in Sweden

Back-to-back champions Special Olympics Bharat head to Gothenburg aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive Gothia Special Olympics Trophy

Vinod Khosla-led group to buy Seattle Seahawks in $9.6 billion NFL deal

The deal, reportedly valued at $9.6 billion, would surpass the Washington Commanders' sale as the most expensive franchise acquisition in NFL history, subject to league approval

German federation confident Jurgen Klopp will be next national team coach

Germany's soccer federation said Saturday it had held talks with Jurgen Klopp and both sides were confident he would take over as national team coach after the country's disappointing exit from the World Cup. Former coach Julian Nagelsmann resigned after his team failed to make the round of 16 for the third World Cup running. Klopp, a serial trophy winner with Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, was quickly identified as the favorite to succeed him. The German federation said talks were held in New York on Friday with Klopp, who is currently in an executive role as head of global soccer for the Red Bull group. "In the constructive exchange, an understanding was reached on essential key points of a potential contract," it said.